Amygdalian phlegmon: how to recognize and treat it?

Amygdalian phlegmon: what is it?

This is'an inflammation of the connective tissue of the amygdala and the constrictor muscle of the pharynx which, as its name indicates, serves to close the pharynx. This acute affection results mainly from an amygdalian pathology which is complicated. This usually occurs in patients with chronic tonsillitis, angina or recurrent pharyngitis. The tonsillar phlegmon mainly affects young adults even if everyone is potentially concerned by this type of affection.

What are the symptoms ?

A tonsillar phlegmon is characterized by the following clinical signs:

• high fever (39 ° C and above)
• an intense and unilateral sore throat,
• significant difficulties in swallowing,
• contracture of the jaw (trismus),
• hypersensitivity of the lymph node region located under the jaw,
• a nasal voice,
• an alteration of the general condition,
• increased fatigue
• a deviation of the uvula from the healthy side,
• a sharp pain in the ear,
• edema of the soft palate,
• a deviation of the amygdala towards the interior of the throat.

Amygdalian phlegmon: how to diagnose it?

Clinical examination usually suffices to establish the diagnosis of tonsillar phlegmon. To confirm this, the attending physician has several characteristic clinical signs: trismus, swelling of the soft palate or the discharge of the amygdala to the healthy side. In most cases, a puncture of the abscess will be performed so that it can be analyzed before surgery to drain the pus.

What is the treatement ?

This condition must be treated urgently. Performing surgery is essential to restore swallowing. For this, the surgeon makes an incision to drain the abscess and promote the evacuation of the purulent collection. Performed under local or general anesthesia, this benign operation must necessarily be associated with effective antibiotic therapy, often administered intravenously at first. The use of corticosteroids is indicated in case of strong inflammation. Since recurrence is frequent, removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) is sometimes offered to the patient.

Focus on tonsillectomy

Tonsils are small lymphoid formations located on both sides of the uvula. They play a major protective role against pathogens that are trying to enter the body. As a real cog in the immune response, the tonsils are increased in volume in case of attacks. But when infections are too repetitive, as can be the case in children, their effectiveness ends up decreasing. In the long term, the tonsils can become a real infectious center, which requires their surgical removal. This procedure is called tonsillectomy. In adults and children, it can be practiced in case:

• very enlarged tonsils,
• repetitive angina
• chronic tonsillitis,
• complicated angina, for example, tonsillitis phlegmon or acute rheumatic fever (RAA).

Phlegmon tonsillar: which prevention?

The prevention of tonsillar phlegmon consists above all in avoiding the repetition of angina or pharyngitis, which may eventually become complicated by forming purulent abscesses. If it is difficult to avoid viral contamination, it is possible to avoid the complications of poor healing. For this, it is advisable to consult a doctor and to follow the recommended treatment until the end, even after disappearance of the symptoms.

Read also :

⋙ Tonsils: is it still necessary to operate?

⋙ Tonsil operation: how is it going?

⋙ How to treat a sore throat when you are pregnant?